Social Policy

Implementation of the programme which ensured preconditions for a successful development process in the field of social welfare, with a focal point onto decentralization of social welfare services, is one of the chief areas wherein the Organization has been engaged as of 2003. Through the process of planning at the local level (delivery of local social policy plans) and development of monitoring and evaluation mechanisms the Organization ensured profound changes in the social welfare sphere.

In cooperation with over 80 local self-government units the preconditions for initiation of innovative social services at the local level were warranted and which had direct influence onto the improvement of living of the most vulnerable population categories.

By developing and implementing the evaluation and monitoring mechanisms the Organization also took part in the process of monitoring the implementation of the established services. Through the process of monitoring and evaluation conducted in over 95 local self-government units information were gathered (quality of the established services, satisfaction of users and delegation of competency from the republic to the municipal level) to display recommendations for advancement of the existing social welfare system.

During the process of social welfare system development in Serbia the Organization was focused onto the work with local self-government units and city administrations by taking part into every step of the planning process: launch of innovative municipal multidisciplinary bodies, creation of institutional frame for the work of new municipal bodies and maintaining trainings in the field of strategic and action planning, strategy budgeting and improving administrative procedures for adoption of the documents.

The outcomes of the work in this segment are reflected in a number of established sustainable social welfare services aimed at vulnerable groups of population, primarily the elder and children, and the youths with disabilities. The quoted services ensured mobilisation of already existing local resources and assistance being provided to the most vulnerable population has been created through observing the needs of local communities.

A particular contribution is the work at the inter-municipal level in the field of innovative social services. Delivery of the inter-municipal social welfare strategies represents an additional segment wherein the Organization took an active part in relation to its creation and implementation.

Pursuant to the experience emanated from the process relating to the establishment of social welfare services the monitoring and evaluation models have been delivered that are being applied in over 95 local self-government units. The mentioned models are not only intended for the identification of the outcome to be achieved by the application of new services but also to continued provision of instructions with an objective to achieve best quality and efficacious social welfare services at the local level.